Therapy for Trauma Healing & Recovery

The word trauma gets used a lot these days. Common situations are more frequently referred to as traumatic. In a way, that may actually be a good thing. While these comments are often said as jokes, they point to an underlying truth. We are regularly bombarded by shocking and upsetting events that can trigger trauma response. For instance, if someone almost steps out into the street before noticing a car coming their way, it might stick with them. This may be especially true if they got to work on the same day and found out their company isn’t doing well, and their job could be at risk. These seemingly small and unrelated events can trigger trauma response and leave people feeling on edge, and they may not realize why. Therapy can help with these everyday forms of trauma as well as helping individuals heal from more extreme traumatic events. In this blog, we’ll talk a little about what trauma is and how therapy helps individuals heal and recover following traumatic experiences.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is anything that causes a wound or injury. Physical trauma can be things like bruises, cuts, and burns. Psychological sources of trauma are events that overwhelm an individual’s ability to process an experience. Things like car accidents, life threatening experiences, serious medical diagnoses, violence, or assault can all cause psychological trauma. For some, these trauma responses resolve quickly and naturally. Others will experience prolonged effects after a traumatic experience, and they may require therapy and other support to achieve healing and recovery.

Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Different?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the diagnosis given to individuals who experience a severe and/or prolonged response to a traumatic event. Signs that trauma response may be PTSD include:

· Intrusive thoughts, memories, flashbacks, nightmares, or reliving the event

· Avoiding people, places, or experiences that stir memories of the trauma; individuals may even avoid thinking about these things

· Intense emotions, mood swings, irritability, and difficulty managing emotions

· Numbness or inability to feel emotions, especially positive emotions

· Struggle to maintain friendships and other relationships

· Feeling alone, isolated, or detached from loved ones and often from themselves

· Lost interest in activities they used to enjoy

· Engaging in self-destructive, trouble-seeking, promiscuous, compulsive, or otherwise dangerous behaviors

· Hiding response to trauma out of shame and guilt

How Does Therapy Help?

Therapy gives individuals the tools to process traumatic experiences and memories and diminish the impact trauma has on their daily lives. Specifically, our therapists may recommend a unique approach to therapy, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) or brainspotting. EMDR therapy was specifically developed to help individuals who were struggling with PTSD. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to change the way traumatic memories are stored and diminish their effect on individuals, so they can access traumatic memories without experiencing significant levels of distress. Brainspotting uses a similar approach to help release trauma response that has become stuck. By releasing the frozen trauma response, the individual is able to access these trauma memories and complete the healing process.

How Do I Get Started?

At Lotus Psychology Group, our knowledgeable therapists are here to support clients as they process trauma and PTSD. If you’re ready to take steps to heal and reclaim your life following trauma, we hope you’ll reach out. You can get started any time by completing our online contact form or emailing info@lotuspsychgroup.com. You can also call us during regular practice hours at (248) 957-8973.